The Urlacher Conundrum

I think Urlacher has a lot to prove this year. I am certain he feels that this is last opportunity to get that elusive Championship. Im sure he thought in 2007 that he had lots of time left to get that ring. Now the final bell may ring for Urlacher so he will come out a demon. But the next phase of his legacy will be written. Will he mentor his replacement or will he be like Brett Farve and do his thing and make Aaron Rodgers watch with minimal imput?

Urlacher was wise to offer a lowball to stay put. He has made plenty of jack so he needs to come out in top flight shape and be lighter and faster to reduce the wear on his balky sticks.

Urlacher's leadership and ability to call the defensive plays in the huddle is highly overrated.  You ever hear that guy talk?  He's a total meathead, and he rips the fans every chance he gets.  Its funny how when somebody has a comment that contradicts what someone says on this board that its considered "trolling."  Really?? 

All those guys mentioned they did suck this past year.  The Bears beat up crappy teams this past year, and got destroyed whenever they played a good team.  

Urlacher's legacy??  What is that?  Ok so he's a white MLB like Dick Butkus, so that means he's got a legacy now with the Bears franchise?  I would contend that Briggs has been just as good if not better than Urlacher.  Is/was he a good player; yes.  Great OK maybe.  But stop talking about the guy like he turned this franchise around.  He was one piece of a good defense that never brought this city a Super Bowl.  Every 3-4 years the Bears get a weak schedule, and then they make a run.  Right up until they play the good franchises in this league, and then they get exposed for what they really are.  Average.  Just average enough to get fans to go to the games, but not good enough to consistently win SUper Bowls.

Ya right; I'm trolling.  The real Bears fans otuside of this message board know the real deal.  They dont live in this fantasy land that Bears fans on this board do.

You ever hear that guy talk?  He's a total meathead, and he rips the fans every chance he gets. 

With "fans" like you, who could blame him

Its funny how when somebody has a comment that contradicts what someone says on this board that its considered "trolling."  Really??

"A comment"? If it was just "a comment", that would be one thing. But it's not just a comment. Every post you type reeks of troll. When you say things like "Urlacher is ony considered good because he's white" or "Urlacher's on-field presence is over-rated." or "The defense sucked last year." That's either trolling or stupidty. 

So which is it with you?

The Bears beat up crappy teams this past year, and got destroyed whenever they played a good team.

Really? The Bears were out of only two games last year. The first Packers game and the 49ers. That's it. 

The vikes were pretty good. Did they "destroy" us too? The Sehawks were pretty good. Did they destroy us? The Colts? The Texans, The Cowboys? unless your definition of "destroyed" is losing by one score...

Again, a sentence like "and got destroyed whenever they played good teams" is either trolling stupidity.

So... again, which one are you?

Urlacher's leadership and ability to call the defensive plays in the huddle is highly overrated.  You ever hear that guy talk?

He was one piece of a good defense that never brought this city a Super Bowl.  Every 3-4 years the Bears get a weak schedule, and then they make a run.  Right up until they play the good franchises in this league, and then they get exposed for what they really are.  Average.

The only thing I know and it's been posted on here many times, is the Bears record without him is woefully different and with him, and if you want to point the finger and blame the defense that's your opinion, but certainly isn't mine.

I agree with you though on his attitude with the fans and media, I never liked his snarky responses, but I did admire his game between the lines, and between the two to me his game in reality is all that matters.

Go Bears

That right there nails it Mongo. IMO Urlacher hurried back for all the right reasons last year yet I believe he's got another good to great year under his belt at least.  (Though we need to address his replacement now).  As for his ability to make defensive calls that CAN NOT be underestimated.

Urlacher had ZERO offseason to do his normal training, he was rehabbing pretty much before the end of the previous season all the way up until the first regular season game of this past season.  At the end of that rehab and right before the season, he had to have his knee scoped.  Our retiring strength coach has recently said that Urlacher's offseason workout habits were as consistent and intense as anybody as he has seen.  He couldn't do his normal offsesaon routine and at his age, that becomes crucial to continuing to play at a high level.  While he may not have been as good as in the past, he definitely wasn't a "liability" because the defense was playing as good, if not better than it ever has.  Mongo made this point somewhere else and I have no proof of it but I truly believe if he was playing against the Vikings the second time we win that game.

His ability to make defensive calls is huge, I think the only moron that questions that is hooligan who seems to hate the Bears more than any so called "fan" I have ever seen.  Mongo again has shown facts with stats that back up the point that the Bears defense suffers a huge drop off without Urlacher throughout his entire career.  TO A MAN, that defense will say he is the unequivoacle leader of that defense and that he gets them all in the right positions.  The players are under not iunder any obligation to say that but they do it anyways because they love the guy and believe in him as their leader.

They weren't afraid to dispense with even great players before they were totally done I.E. Jerry Rice--that it's a business and business decisions for the good of the team come first.

Mainwolf, I completely agree with this sentiment, but only on well run franchises with good GM's.  If JA or Emery had drafted a MLB (JA more than Emery) years ago that they could have developed to be a replacement than it may be time for Urlacher to go.  The problem is, they haven't and there is no immediate solution.  When the 49ers of the 90's let guys go before the were completely incapable of playing anymore, they had a viable solution in place.  When they let Rice go, Owens was ready to be the #1 guy.  When they let Montana go, Young was ready to be the #1 guy.  This is why I don't think Urlacher falls into this category.  You let him go and you have no one ready to be that guy.  If Emery or Trestman think Roach is that guy, they will not be employed very long.  If Trestman can get Urlacher to buy-in, he gets the whole defense to buy-in and for a team looking to make a run next year, that would be huge.  For this reason, I think they bring him back.  The only roadblock was Urlacher wanting to much money and he appears to have taken that down.  Also, if Trestman or Emery need any proof of the value and motivating emotional factors of an aging MLB looking to make one last run eventhough his play has significantly dropped off from what it used to be, they need to look no further than Ray Lewis and the Ravens this past season.

Nick Roach. This is the 4th linebacker on most teams. A short term to the Bears issue could be signing Nick Barnett. at the OLB position with Urlacher in the middle then draft a linebacker.

I dont care what racist troll boy says. It doesnt matter if Urlacher is white or black. He has been the face of the franchise since 2000. Mark that down as 13 years. I have been critical of 54 the last couple seasons. Never liked him holding out for more $$$ becasue someone else got paid with a current deal...but that goes for anyone. But the Bears gave away all their leverage when they never developed any other options and he was really their only choice....and still is. Say what you will Urlacher and his diminished skills are better than anyone else the Bears have...still...14 years in a row.

 Say what you will Urlacher and his diminished skills are better than anyone else the Bears have...still...14 years in a row.

Nail head, meet hammer...


This is exactly the point I have tried to make - and a fundemental sports belief I have.

I personally don't "care" about players. What matters is the team. And what matters to me about the team is always winning. Nothing else.

Now, I will wear Urlachers Jersey, and buy Cutler memorabilia. And my avatar is Steve McMichael. They are players I admire.

But the day they are no longer the "best player" that we can put out on the field is the day I don't want them on the field.

If the Bears do decide to draft a rookie MLB and he comes in and plays better than Urlacher and manages the D to an elite level, then it's time to either move Urlacher to the bench or for him to hang them up.

I won't clamor for Urlacher just because he "was" great. And the color of his skin, (for the idiot who said that) means nothing to me...

Anyone who thinks we had better options last year doesn't really follow the team...

Mongo, well said and really clarifies what I am trying to say.  If there was a better option, I would say go for it.  If we had a yound stud behind him ready to go, I say put him in and Urlacher is one of my favorite Bears of all time.  It is about winning and even at a diminished capacity, he is still better than anyone you could sign as a free agent this offseason or put in there as a rookie.  I'm just talking about his physical ability, add in the leadership aspect and the respect he immediately gets from every player on that Bears defense and re-signing him in my opinion is a no brainer.

Couple interesting reads on the defense.


This one addresses some of the issues discussed on this thread...


New Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Mel Tucker said Thursday he plans on having an “attacking, up-the-field, penetrating defense,” very similar to the one that had been run by Lovie Smith and Rod Marinelli.

In fact, Tucker even plans on keeping the same terminology in place so players will have fewer adjustments to make.  Tucker made it clear he thinks it’s all about players and stresses communication, from offseason to on-field.

“Input from the players is huge,” Tucker said. “They are on the field. That’s the chemistry part of it. Communication is huge. You have to have that. You want to encourage players to give you feedback.”

Asked about the future of Brian Urlacher,Tucker said, “We’re still in the evaluation process. We’ll go through that at some point.”

The 34-year old middle linebacker has an expiring contract, and he isn’t the only defensive player Tucker and the Bears need to make decisions on.  Others whose deals are up include defensive linemen Henry Melton and Israel Idonije, linebacker Nick Roach and cornerbacks Kelvin Hayden and D.J. Moore.

“In terms of personnel, who is going to be here, who’s not going to be here, I don’t know that,” Tucker said. “We are still in the evaluation process. There is still time to figure those things out.”

Tucker also was noncommittal on where Shea McClellin may play in the future, but he was firmly committed to a 4-3 defense.

“We don’t have any plans to switch at this point,” he said.

[http://articles.chicagotribune.com/
2013-02-14/sports/chi-chicago-bears
-mel-tucker-20130214_1_israel-idoni
je-evaluation-process-defensive-coo
rdinator]


Good move by Tucker. If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it. I am assuming when he says " attacking, up the field, penetrating defense " that means he will be sticking with the 1 gap so Melton gets to play the 3T. It sounds like Urlacher's status is still up in the air. I think they will resign him though.


This one is about the possibility of tagging Melton...


The Chicago Bears can play tag with Henry Melton beginning on Monday, a measure that would ensure the defensive tackle remains in place for 2013.

NFL teams have from Monday through March 4, a 15-day window, to apply the franchise tag in advance of free agency and the start of the new league year on March 12. Barring a multi-year contract for Melton, it seems like a good bet general manager Phil Emery will elect to use the franchise tag for the second consecutive year after applying it to running back Matt Forte in 2012. Doing so could lock up nearly one-third of the team’s salary cap in four defensive stars, though.

The goal with Forte was to sign him to a long-term contract and the sides hammered that out with a four-year deal before the July deadline. Emery could choose a similar path with Melton, who would be guaranteed $8.3 million if he is tagged and he signs the one-year tender.

Melton had a career-high seven sacks in 2011 and followed up with six in 2012 but he was a much more complete player this past season and made the Pro Bowl for the first time. He defended the run better and finished with 33 tackles, a team-high 24 quarterback pressures, five tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.

Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker unveiled his vision on Thursday for an “attacking, penetrating front” while maintaining the Cover Two scheme the Bears used the previous nine seasons under Lovie Smith. That defense will not work effectively without a disruptive three-technique, the type of player the 26-year-old Melton has developed into since being selected as a defensive end in the fourth round in 2009.

The Bears declined to talk about any personnel goals on Thursday and Emery could be waiting to connect with Melton’s agent Jordan Woy at the NFL Scouting Combine next week in Indianapolis. Late in the season, Melton characterized contract talks between the parties as “back and forth.” He told the Tribune he believes he is the top interior 4-3 lineman in the league.

“We're still playing the 4-3 … there is not another better D-tackle in the league than myself," Melton said. "I feel like that."

Carving out $8.3 million for Melton will give the Bears a considerable amount of their salary cap in four defensive players. The Bears currently have $31.8 million in cap room devoted to three defensive players – end Julius Peppers ($16,383,333), cornerback Charles Tillman ($8 million) and linebacker Lance Briggs ($7,416,670). Adding Melton, the team’s fourth Pro Bowl defensive player, at $8.3 million would push the cap hit for the four players to $40.1 million – almost one-third of the team’s cap space.

There are ways for the Bears to create more space. Tillman, who turns 32 next week, is in the final year of his contract. If the club chose to extend him, it could lower his cap figure. The Bears could always consider a restructure for Peppers but doing that would only push forward the issue.

[http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport
s/football/bears/chi-chicago-bears-
news-henry-melton-20130215,0,682766.story]
 

Sounds like the Bears may take a similar approach to the one they did with Forte. Tag Melton and buy time until the July deadline to work out a long term deal. Hopefully, without the ugliness in the media this time... That would also buy time for the Bears to possibly restructure Peppers and extend Tillman to more cap friendly contracts.

That could be the way to go, put the Melton contract aside and address it after the draft when the frenzy of March and April are complete.

Mainwolf, I completely agree with this sentiment, but only on well run franchises with good GM's.  If JA or Emery had drafted a MLB (JA more than Emery) years ago that they could have developed to be a replacement than it may be time for Urlacher to go

I don't think that the NFL or virtually any major sport for that matter invest in draft picks as a medium for replacing their aging stars. Maybe at most a year for most positions. Even the former "developmental" quarterback position has been virtually blown to hell. Think back. In the history of the Bears, what in waiting linebacker did the Bears have for Butkus, how about Singletary, now Urlacher. As much as I hated Angelo, I sure as heck didn't see an Urlacher replacement anywhere in the last three drafts to use a top two pick on. Did you?

Luke Keuchly sure looks good and I wouldnt mind him patrolling the middle for the Bears. Brandon Spikes and Dont'a Hightower, while not being as good as Urlacher arent bad. Those are 3 MLB guys drafted from 2010-2012 the Bears couldve had. I think the key here is to understand that we arent going to "replace" Brian Urlacher. Whomever is going to eventually play the middle spot for Chicago isnt going to be Urlacher, just like 54 wasn't Mike Singletary. Middle linebacker position has a lot of depth in the draft. IF you want a good place for NFL ready players look no further than Stanford. O-line, MLB and TE are the creme de la creme there and that school has high character, high quality disciplined ball players ho dont go there for the Coke and Ho's circuit like most of the Southern Schools like Miami and Alabama.

I for sure would have dropped a 1st rounder on Keuchly. He is better than Urlacher right now. Maybe not in play calling but his ability for sure.

Keuchly wasnt an option.  He went well ahead of where we drafted.  Hightower I believe was available.  Spikes in my opinion is not as good as Roach nerver mind Urlacher even at his current playing state.  An interesting thought just popped up.  Demarco Ryans is now once again a miss fit for the new Eagles D.  What do you think it would take to get him in a trade?  We can put him next to Urlacher or if Urlacher doesnt come back he could be a solid replacemnt.  Not a HOFer but a true pro bowler for the next 4 to 5 years. 

Al in Cal you nailed it.  Everyone expects the Bears to just draft the next HOF MLB like they grow on trees.  We do need to continue to add young talent to the LB corps but to expect the next youngster we add to be another Urlacher, Singletary or Briggs for that matter really is more of a wish than an expectation.  The last HOF caliber MLB to be drafted anywhere in the league since Urlacher was Patrick Willis. 

By the way I am a white guy.  Just thought I'd say that since you guys think I'm a racist for stating a simple fact that Urlacher gets a lot more press for being a white MLB.  He just does.  Its a simple fact.  No one likes to talk about it, but its the truth.  So lets see I haven't said anything about anyone on this board.  But you guys have stooped to the level of name calling....troll....racist...etc.  I am simply stating my opinion.  I think your comments speaks volumes about all of you.

Oh and by the way the Bears haven't won anything since 85.  So define winning.  I define winning in the NFL as winning Super Bowls.  There are no shades of gray.  Either you win the SB or not.  Not since 85 fellas.  I'm not OK with that as a Bears fan.

stating a simple fact that Urlacher gets a lot more press for being a white MLB.  He just does.  Its a simple fact.  No one likes to talk about it, but its the truth. 

There you go again. You say its a "fact" that Urlacher is over-rated. You say that he gets more "press" because he is white. Wait just a second there. What do you say about a guy like Ray Lewis who got a great deal of positive "press" his entire career including the big time butt licking that the media did in the last Super Bowl regarding him? Was he under covered by the "press"? Do you also think that if Urlacher was heavily involved in the murder of two guys that the media would have been so kind to him? No way in hell they would.

How about all of the kudos given to RGIII versus Luck? If anything. Even to the point that they voted him as Rookie of the Year when he didn't play nearly a full season and Luck led a 2011 pathetic team into the play-offs this season. I think that in a good measure that white players in the NFL are dissed as being less athletic and capable than black athletes.

Since you love to talk about "truth" as if you own it, how about this truth? There is a big time media bias in all aspects of television and it is slanted favorably toward non whites. Even that killer Dorner out here in Big Bear is getting lionized by some out here in the media. Then I recently watched a program on MSNBC which pretty much felt sorry for Jesse Jackson Jr.  and talked about all of the "positives" that he had done while a politician?????

Truth is that Brian Urlacher was a truly special middle linebacker. I cannot remember a better middle linebacker in pass coverage EVER and I go back aways to the Bill George,  Nitchke(sp?) era. And while not as good as the best middle LB of all time, Dick Butkus, he certainly fits in the top five or so middle LBs of all time. Easily a first ballot HOFer.

Brian Urlacher has been a bona fide HOF linebacker.  He revelutionized the MLB spot as a coverage LB.  Nobody has covered the middle of the field like he has before he came along and nobody has since hes been in the league.  He has also been amazing against the run.  Just look at the Bears ranking in run defense during his tenure.  Hes done it with big DTs who protected him from linement and hes done it with smaller faster DTs that alow linemen to get to him.  Because he is white he has gotten scurtinized by the media.  Making many overated lists.  I cant recall one time Urlacher gained any advantage in being white.  When he won the DPY he clearly deserved it.  Unlike Palamalu.  Every pro bowl hes made was well deserved.  He has NEVER been a liability on the field even the past couple of seasons when he got hurt.  So any argument against Urlachers career is not racist its just stupid. 

Well said bigrob. Never thought I would ever think being white was a handicap to being considered good at anything.

Well said bigrob. Never thought I would ever think being white was a handicap to being considered good at anything.

It only is when idiots like Irish Hooligan bring it up.  I don't give a crap what race you are, if you can play, you can play and if you can play at a high level, I personally am glad to have you on the Bears regardless of race.  To say someone is the best "white" MLB or "black" MLB is really an insult to the player.  For 14 years, Urlacher has been one of the best LB's in football regardless of race and anyone who doesn't see that, knows very little about football. 

Don't mind Hooligan. He's been bashing Urlacher longer than I've been here.

Good grief, this is not a race issue at all.